Tire Pressure(s)
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 420
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From: Ohio
Tire Pressure(s)
Got the tires roated...
Dealer swapped Front to Back....
BUT....
Didn't adjust pressures accordingly
The tires were originally aired up to the door sticker values, my front tires had 70psi (after rotation)
What do most of you run your tires at, assuming light to "no-Load" conditions.
Sorry if this has been addressed "ad-nauseum", but I'm sure the door jam sticker assumes "highest load" case.
Dealer swapped Front to Back....
BUT....
Didn't adjust pressures accordingly
The tires were originally aired up to the door sticker values, my front tires had 70psi (after rotation)
What do most of you run your tires at, assuming light to "no-Load" conditions.
Sorry if this has been addressed "ad-nauseum", but I'm sure the door jam sticker assumes "highest load" case.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 417
Likes: 7
From: Olympic Peninsula, WA USA
Tire Pressure(s)
The label on the door jamb is assuming a truck is loaded to the GAWR’s (Gross Axle Weight Rating). If you are operating at a lower weight, you can reduce the pressure for better tire wear, smoother ride and better traction. The label is also assuming you have stock tires as delivered from the factory. If you have a different tire installed, you need to use the correct pressure for the tire installed.
Here’s the proper way to determine what pressure to run in your tires. Weigh your truck, getting individual weights for each wheel (or at a minimum each axle). Then consult the tire inflation chart for your brand/model of tire. The chart will tell you what pressure to run based on your weight. If you got individual wheel weights, use the heaviest wheel on an axle to determine what pressure to run on all tires on that axle. If you weigh your truck unloaded you’ll need to do this again with your normal load. If your load fluctuates all the time, it’s probably easier to just keep the tires inflated to handle the highest load you anticipate.
In my case, I carry a 4000 lb slide-in camper occasionally. I keep the truck tires inflated for unloaded driving most of the time. Then before I load the camper, I pump them up for the extra weight. That way the truck rides smoothly with good traction and even tread wear while unloaded. If I was loading and unloading the camper daily or even weekly, I’d probably just keep the tires pumped up. Changing tire pressure daily on a dually would get old real quick.
It's a good idea to read the footnotes and fine print in tire inflation manuals also. For instance, in the Firestone manual it says that if you are driving for long periods at 65 to 74 mph, you should increase the tire pressure 10 psi (provided the wheels are rated to handle the pressure). In the case of the Firestone Steeltex 265/75-16 tire that would be 90 psi if you are at max load. This means that the 80 psi listed on the sidewall is not the max pressure. If you want to drive 75 to 84 mph , you still need those extra 10 psi, but you also need to reduce you max weight capacity by 10%.
You can view a tire inflation table for LT235/85-16 tires at http://www.goodyear.com/truck/pdf/LoadInflLTMetric.pdf .
Here’s the inflation table for the LT265/75R16 Firestone Steeltex tire
Weight Pressure
1910 35
2100 40
2280 45
2470 50
2625 55
2790 60
3000 65
3105 70
3260 75
3415 80
If you are driving at higher speeds for extended periods, you need to add more air:
65-74mph add 10psi
75-84mph add 10psi & decrease max load 10%
Here’s the proper way to determine what pressure to run in your tires. Weigh your truck, getting individual weights for each wheel (or at a minimum each axle). Then consult the tire inflation chart for your brand/model of tire. The chart will tell you what pressure to run based on your weight. If you got individual wheel weights, use the heaviest wheel on an axle to determine what pressure to run on all tires on that axle. If you weigh your truck unloaded you’ll need to do this again with your normal load. If your load fluctuates all the time, it’s probably easier to just keep the tires inflated to handle the highest load you anticipate.
In my case, I carry a 4000 lb slide-in camper occasionally. I keep the truck tires inflated for unloaded driving most of the time. Then before I load the camper, I pump them up for the extra weight. That way the truck rides smoothly with good traction and even tread wear while unloaded. If I was loading and unloading the camper daily or even weekly, I’d probably just keep the tires pumped up. Changing tire pressure daily on a dually would get old real quick.
It's a good idea to read the footnotes and fine print in tire inflation manuals also. For instance, in the Firestone manual it says that if you are driving for long periods at 65 to 74 mph, you should increase the tire pressure 10 psi (provided the wheels are rated to handle the pressure). In the case of the Firestone Steeltex 265/75-16 tire that would be 90 psi if you are at max load. This means that the 80 psi listed on the sidewall is not the max pressure. If you want to drive 75 to 84 mph , you still need those extra 10 psi, but you also need to reduce you max weight capacity by 10%.
You can view a tire inflation table for LT235/85-16 tires at http://www.goodyear.com/truck/pdf/LoadInflLTMetric.pdf .
Here’s the inflation table for the LT265/75R16 Firestone Steeltex tire
Weight Pressure
1910 35
2100 40
2280 45
2470 50
2625 55
2790 60
3000 65
3105 70
3260 75
3415 80
If you are driving at higher speeds for extended periods, you need to add more air:
65-74mph add 10psi
75-84mph add 10psi & decrease max load 10%
